AH, MUSIC!

Age Range: 4 - 10

Pub Date: April 1st, 2003ISBN: 0-06-028719-5Publisher: HarperCollins

Everything you’d ever want to know about music: from how to define it, to types of instruments, the voice as an instrument, how dance and music work together, its history and diversity, music as therapy, and the importance of practice. This comprehensive examination is accompanied by Aliki’s (One Little Spoonful, 2001, etc.) familiar, clear, child-friendly illustrations. Starting out simple, the first chapter defines something very basic: “If you hum a tune, play an instrument, or clap out a rhythm, you are making music,” accompanied by a few spot illustrations. Then, diagrams of an entire orchestra are laid out, sophisticated terms such as “polyphonic” are defined, and lesser-known antique instruments are pictured. There is something here for everyone, from the youngest fans of the simplest melody, to older children looking for a starting point for research, to anyone interested in finding out more about a favorite art form. The joy of music is not lost in all the information, however—the energetic art, particularly in the chapter on dance, conveys the power of music to inspire. (Picture book. 4-10)